Maritime Eionet workshop 26 October 2010 Present yourself!

New EU policy context: Ecosystem based management Coastal area EU Integrated Maritime Policy, incl. CFP Thematic Strategy for the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment Water Framework Directive Marine Protected Areas (e.g. Natura2000) Now (beyond the WFD – pioneer!) there is stronger promotion of the ecosystem-based approach to the management of human activities in the EU’s marine environment: Marine Strategy Framework Directive (entry into force June 2008) Integrated Maritime Policy driving also the Common Fisheries Policy and all other sectoral actions (endorsement of ‘Blue book’ by European Council 14 December 2007), the MSFD is its ‘environmental pillar’ Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) sets 'boundary conditions' (sustainability) for maritime activities – including fisheries - in Europe, which will need to work towards achieving 'good environmental status' (GES) in marine waters by 2020. GES = the ultimate aim of the Directive). The MSFD also: Places the Habitats and Birds directives into a GES context => Clearly indicates that marine protected areas (MPAs) within Natura2000 are a TOOL to achieve GES Reinforces marine biodiversity international commitments/agreements, such as the CBDs’ halting of biodiversity loss’ (2010) and MPA network establishment (2012)

Assessments moving slowly from DPSIR framework to ecosystem services Better expression of impacts on human health and socio-economics EEA will publish a 2012 European Ecosystem Assessment (EURECA): Marine component under consideration Main EEA marine assessment improvements since 2006-7 Issues addressed  Not enough to provide a pan-European picture in terms of DPSIR and outlook => Now more! Data coverage  Not always pan-European depending on the issue (i.e. no equal representation of the 4 regional seas) => Now aiming at that and expanding! Integration  Poor link to land-based inputs and no overall picture of the situation (i.e. all the issues together) => Now aiming at that Policy relevance and effectiveness  Do not reflect that the ecosystem-based approach (WFD, MSFD, IMP) is now part => Now doing that!

Working towards producing an integrated marine/maritime assessment around 2013 - 2015 Integrated assessment means to assess the full D-P-S-I-R framework in the context of the marine and coastal environment. Maritime economy as a driver of human activities The environmental consequences of these activities Potential of policy responses – are they enough? What more is needed on the European level? Start to develop both concept and content in collaboration with ETC/W + ETC/Lusi Develop a list of priorities of topics to cover Scale of assessment – e.g. to which extent will it be possible to develop a pan-European assessment? Can we collect enough data to implement an assessment tool? Highlight the support of the international community to achieve these goals

The purpose… Achieve Good Environmental Status within the marine ecosystems, while promoting long-term sustainable use of marine resources Ecological components and human activities only have one thing in common - They all influence place and/or exist somewhere The basic challenges for MSP to support ecosystem-based management: Describe the ecosystem in a spatial context Describe human activities in a spatial context Link ecosystem components with human activities -> set targets Implement Programme of Measures, (incl. spatial plan) based on an ecological understanding, to achieve GES Keep within the framework and “guidance” of EU Maritime Policy

Cumulative activities – difficult to maintain overview Power plant Shipping intensity Waterborne P Heavy metal deposition Harbour Pelagic trawling Operating wind farm Source and Impact value Areas with specific sea use at the Belgian coast (source: DG MARE and HELCOM)

Relevant examples from MESH and BALANCE projects Seabed map showing EUNIS habitat types Benthic marine landscapes – What are the dominant landscape types of seas? Source: searchmesh.net Source: BALANCE Interim Report No. 10

Pressure index – illustrating cumulative pressures Courtesy HELCOM HOLAS

Impact index – combining pressures with ecological values Three main elements: Data on pressures Expert judgment of effect upon ecosystem component Presence of ecosystem component in assessed area e.g. broad scale habitat map HOLAS anvender 3 elementer: Data om presfaktorer Vægtning af virkning på økosystem komponent Tilstedeværelse af økosystem komponenet i vurderingslokalitet På kortet viser en samlet fremstilling af presfaktorernes samlede virkning på de forskellige dele af Østersøen. Øger vores forståelse af påvirkningerne på det marine økosystem og dets komponenter Viser hvor der er flere aktiviteter der påvirker sammen natur - synliggører kumulative effekter (problemområder) Kan bidrage til at finde de mest omkostningseffektive løsninger ift. indsatsprogrammet (se næste slide) Kan anvendes på alle geografiske niveauer (Marin region, sub-region, sub-division, lokal) Kartografisk præsentation med stor kommunikativ værdi Får harmoniseret med vore naboer På sigt, understøtter fysisk planlægning Courtesy HELCOM HOLAS

B. S. Halpern et al., Science 319, 948 -952 (2008) Fig. 1. Global map (A) of cumulative human impact across 20 ocean ecosystem types B. S. Halpern et al., Science 319, 948 -952 (2008) Published by AAAS

Marine Core Service data Reference layers (maps) BIG HELP: Integrated Maritime Policy – has identified Marine Observations as a need! Policy relevant data Country data Marine Core Service data Research data Reference layers (maps) EuropeanMarine Observation Data NETwork Wise-Marine In the maritime Policy Blue Book published in 2007, the EC promised to take step towards developing a European Marine Observation Data Network in order to provide access to high quality marine data. Ongoing Integrated Maritime Policy preparatory actions (2009-2011) Network of existing and developing European observation systems, linked by a data management structure covering all European coastal waters, shelf seas and surrounding ocean basins, accessible to everyone Main tasks: Integrate and expand the combined in situ and remote sensing of open ocean, shelf seas and coastal observation systems Harmonise different methodologies and strategies for data management under common protocols, data formats and quality control Ensure consistent distribution of data for user applications including regional data interpretation, environmental assessments and modelling Maps of broad-scale European sea-bed habitats EMODNET will be the data core of WISE-Marine MSFD

EMODNET & Sea bottom mapping Developing WISE-Marine (marine component of the Water Information System for Europe) EEA information services National Data Centres Research projects Sub-national Data Centres Internet (Inspire) User WISE-Marine has been under development since 2007 (preparatory work lead by the EEA and DG ENV). Now its further development is part of the MSFD European implementation Strategy. over 2007-8 Partnership of a wide range of data providers at different level, keeping data as close as possible to its source, to ensure quality and maintenance, e.g. FP projects Links to data sources include the Integrated Maritime Policy’s EMODNET (main raw data provider) and the Sea bottom mapping project WISE-Marine should allow access to the data and information but it mainly aims at providing an ‘interpretation’ of this information: e.g. Indicators and Assessments MSFD & WFD data GMES International Conventions Data from other Directives EMODNET & Sea bottom mapping Geo-ref.

Distributing information & knowledge DATA ASSESSMENTS INFORMATION SERVICES ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS The 3 aspects (called ‘tools’ for EEA work on the previous slide): Indicators Assessments (both methods and outputs) Information systems are highlighted here as there are ‘entry points’ for addressing deep-sea issues in all of them that could be strengthened (with help from HERMES). This will be illustrated in detail as we go along Decision-makers / The public / NGO’s / Researchers

In conclusion... Describing the maritime sector and our need to quantify pressures on the marine environment. Information system development /Atlases/coastal indicators and the role of spatial analysis and data integration Maritime spatial planning and ICZM Role of economic activities in coastal communities Maritime surveillance Climate change adaptation on the coast.

Assessments in a global context EEA is contributor to The 'Assessment of Assessments' established by decision of the UN. Recommends a regular global process for assessing the state of the marine environment based on fundamental agreed principles – expected formaly endorsed by the general assemply on 15/9-2009. First cycle planned 2010-2014 It is an international initiative to improve our understanding of the oceans and to develop a global mechanism for delivering science-based information to decision makers and public.   An example of a process established largely by members of the scientific community who have engaged in a global process. It has not yet been decided how the EU will contribute to this process, but probably using the same assessment cycle as devised in the MSFD.

Principles to guide the Regular UN Process: Viewing the oceans as part of the whole Earth system; Regular evaluation of assessment products and the process itself to support adaptive management; Use of sound science and the promotion of scientific excellence; Regular and proactive analysis to ensure that emerging issues, significant changes and gaps in knowledge are detected at an early stage; Continuous improvement in scientific and assessment capacity; Effective links with policy-makers and other users; Inclusiveness with respect to communication and engagement with all stakeholders through appropriate means for their participation Transparency and accountability for the process and its products.” For these principles to be implemented the following needs to be considered: Participation – roles and responsibilities: Within the agreed institutional arrangements, the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, experts, the secretariat and other stakeholders should be clearly articulated in order to avoid misunderstandings, promote transparency and ensure the integrity and infl uence of the Regular Process; b. Assessment procedures: The scientific credibility of an assessment can be signifi cantly affected by the approach taken on a number of procedural questions such as quality assurance, nomination and selection of experts, peer review and the treatment of uncertainty and lack of consensus among experts. c. Capacity building and networking: The initial stage of the Regular Process must include effective steps to identify the areas in which capacities need to be developed. d. Post-assessment evaluation: Since one of the founding principles of an effective assessment process is that it should be iterative and adaptive, it is vital to agree on procedures to evaluate both assessment products and the Regular Process itself. This should include experts, policy-makers and other users (e.g., private sector), including both those involved in the assessment and those who have not been involved in any way. The principles are also supported by a set of key design features that include: The objectives and scope of individual assessments; An effective relationship between science and policy; Modalities for stakeholder participation; Nomination and selection of experts; Data and information: sourcing, quality assurance and the availability and accessibility of underlying data and information; Treatment of lack of consensus among experts; Treatment of uncertainty; Peer review; Effective communication; Capacity building and networking; Post-assessment evaluation. Full report available at: http://www.unga-regular-process.org

Thank you!